Statue of the Vizier Iuy

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Wooden statues were common in ancient Egypt but preserved less often than their counterparts in stone. This figure is a spectacular example of a statue of a wealthy official, whose robust frame and long, elaborate garment (note the fringe carved at the top of the dress across his back) identify his successful career. The name of the owner is not preserved, but the statue was found close to a tomb that contained coffin fragments inscribed for the mayor and vizier Yuy. A small limestone figure wearing the same kind of kilt (23.3.38) was found together with this piece, as were two "Tell el-Jahudiyeh" vessels (23.3.39 and 23.3.40).

Egyptian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met collection of ancient Egyptian art consists of approximately 30,000 objects of artistic, historical, and cultural importance, dating from about 300,000 BCE to the 4th century CE. A signifcant percentage of the collection is derived from the Museum's three decades of archaeological work in Egypt, initiated in 1906 in response to increasing interest in the culture of ancient Egypt.

Metropolitan Museum of Art